Flexible banner display

ABSTRACT

A DISPLAY COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE BANNER HEMMED OR OTHERWISE FORMED INTO TUBES AT SPACED POINTS ALONG IT, RODS OR THE LIKE BEING INSERTED THROUGH THESE TUBES, A FIRST SUPPORT CLAMPED AROUND AND EXTENDING ALONG ONE OF THE RODS, AND FASTENED TO A POLE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PREVENT PIVOTING OF THE BANNER AROUND THE POLE, AND A SECOND   SUPPORT ATTACHED TO BOTH THE POLE AND TO THE OTHER ROD WHICH APPLIES TENSION TO THE PORTION OF THE BANNER BETWEEN THE RODS.

H. B. MILLER FLEXIBLE BANNER DISPLAY Filed Sept. 4, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Get 1973 H. B. MILLER 3,69,84

FLEXIBLE BANNER DISPLAY Filed Sept. 4, 1969 I5 Shams-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYH Get. 5, 197E H. B. MILLER m 3,

FLEXIBLE BANNER DISPLAY Filed Sept. 4., 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VIZNTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,609,894 FLEXIBLE BANNER DISPLAY Harmon B. Miller III, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Miller-Zell, Inc., Atlanta, Ga. Filed Sept. 4, 1969, Ser. No. 855,341 Int. Cl. G09f 7/18 US. Cl. 40-145 R 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display comprising a flexible banner hemmed or otherwise formed into tubes at spaced points along it, rods or the like being inserted through these tubes, a first support clamped around and extending along one of the rods, and fastened to a pole in such a way as to prevent pivoting of the banner around the pole, and a second support attached to both the pole and to the other rod which applies tension to the portion of the banner between the rods.

The present invention relates to a display comprising a banner supported on an upright pole, and more particularly to a flexible banner and simplified, low cost support means to fasten the banner to a pole in such a way as to permit easy replacement of the banner without replacement of the support means. The display support means are of simplified shape permitting fabrication of low cost materials such as steel, and provide firm, durable support for the banner.

Briefly, the display comprises a flexible banner hemmed or otherwise formed into tubes at spaced points along it, rods or the like being inserted through these tubes, 21 first support clamped around and extending along one of the rods, as hereinafter explained, and fastened to the pole in such a way as to prevent pivoting of the banner around the pole, and a second support attached to both the pole and to the other rod which applies tension to the portion of the banner between the rods.

The invention will be better understood from the following deailed description of a preferred embodiment, reference being made to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the supports;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a clamp used in connection with the support shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate, in perspective view, the other support;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a component of the support shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the component of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation, partly in cross-section of the upper support, along lines 88 of FIG. 1

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a component of the support shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation, partly in section along lines 1010 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the upper bracket;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 11.

As seen in FIG. 1, the display comprises a flexible banner 1 and upper and lower supports shown generally at 2 and 3 respectively.

The upper support 2 comprises a bracket 4, an elongated rod or tube 5 fitted into the bracket 4, a pair of clamps 6 and 6 holding the bracket tightly around the rod 5 and a strap 7 around the pole.

The structures of the components of the upper support 2 are best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6-8. The bracket 4 comprises a flat generally rectangular plate 10, having rounded corners, a portion of which has been bent into the shape of an elongated slotted tube 11. The portion of the plate which is not bent, i.e., the lower portion which is to be strapped against the pole, has been stamped with V-shaped slits, the apexes of which are pointed downwardly, and the portion within the V being bent back about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the pole to which the bracket is secured to form pointed tongues 12 and 12' which can firmly grip a round metal pole or dig into a wood pole. The tongues are equally spaced from a vertical center line of the bracket, on opposite sides thereof.

The slotted tube portion 11 of the bracket 4 is formed by six bends, each about a horizontal axis, as seen in FIG. 8, i.e., about an axis perpendicular to the pole. First, there is a bend 13 of about 30 at the top of the unbent portion of the plate 10, this bend being inward towards the pole, forming a section 14. A short distance above this bend there is a 180 bend 15, forming a section 16 pressed against section 14. Adjacent the bend 13, the plate is bent about 30 at 17 towards the pole, to form section 18 pressed against the unbent lower portion of the plate. Next the plate is bent 90 away from the pole at 19 to form a horizontal section 20, generally perpendicular to the pole. A short distance outwardly from the pole, the plate is bent upwardly along a curve of radius about the curve continuing up to a point 21 slightly lower than or about level with bends 13 and 17. At point 21, the plate is bent outwardly at about 3040 from vertical to form the end section 22 of the plate.

A rod or tube 5 of about 4" outside diameter is fitted within the slotted tube 11, formed by the aforesaid bends in plate 10, to support the banner as hereinafter described. To permit fastening the bracket 4 to a pole, it has two horizontally spaced square apertures 41 and 41 through the unbent portion of plate 10 and section 18 of the slotted tube, through which the strap 7 passes, equally spaced about the center-line of the bracket. This strap may be tightened, for example with a buckle 43. A unique feature is that the apertures 41 and 41 are formed by slitting on three sides and bending the metal towards the pole to form dogs 100 and 100 (see FIG. 6) which may grip the pole.

The lower support 3 comprises a rod or tube 50, analogous to rod 5, a spring 51, a lower bracket 52 and a strap 53. The bracket 52, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, is a rectangular plate bent about around vertical axis at 54 and 55 to provide two laterally diverging legs 56 and 57 which press against the pole. These legs have vertically extending rectangular slots 58 and 58' through which the strap 53 passes, the strap being tightened against the pole by a buckle 59.

The center section 60 of the bracket 52 is punched to provide a slot 61 which receives a hook 6 2 at the lower end of spring 51. Similarly, there is a triangular aperture 63 in the rod 50, one of its corners being pointed down, which receives a hook 64 at the top of spring 51. The strap 53 is positioned so that the spring 51 is under tension when the hooks 62 and 64 are inserted into aperture 63 and slot 61.

The banner 1 is ordinarily a flexible sheet, for example flexible plastic, plastic coated or impregnated paper, or a fabric. In the embodiment shown, the upper and lower edges are hemmed to provide tubes and 71, respectively, which receive rods 5 and 50, respectively. At the center of the lower hem 71, on the outer face of the banner, there is a notch 72 aligned with aperture 63. At the center of the upper hem, the tube 70 is slit to form an opening 73 where the upper bracket 4 is clamped around the elongated rod 5.

To mount the banner, after the brackets are strapped to the pole, the rods 5 and 50 are inserted through the tubes 70 and 71 and the rod 5 is inserted into slotted tube 11 of the upper bracket. It will be noted that the radius of curvature of the inner surface of the rounded outer wall 23 of the tube 11 is the same, approximately as the radius of the outer wall of rod 5. Also the distance between wall 23 and section 18 of the slotted tube, and the vertical distance from section 20 to bends 17 and 21 are about the diameter of the rod 5. Thus, the rod is firmly gripped.

The clamps 6 and 6 are in the shape approximately of the letter C, each comprising a flat, rectangular horizontal section 80, a downwardly and inwardly curved inner section 81 and a downwardly extending fiat outer section 8-2, the outer and inner sections fitting around the ears 83 and 84 of the slotted tube 11 which comprise, respectively, sections 14 and 16 and section 22. There is a screw 85 threaded through a hole 86 in section 82 of the clamp which is positioned to be tightened against point 21, thus drawing section 81 of the clamp against ear 83 and drawing ears 83 and 84 together. This tightens slotted tube against rod 5, so that it is firmly gripped and will not be loosened or moved by wind blowing against the banner 1.

'When the upper rod 5 is thus mounted, spring 51 is stretched between aperture 63 and slot 61, pulling the banner taut.

All of the structural elements of the supports preferably are made of corrosion resistant steel, for example plated or galvanized stock. The simplicity of the structural elements makes this possible, avoiding the need for using aluminum extrusions to provide complex shapes such as those described in U.S. Pat. 3,310,899. In turn, the use of simple steel shapes reduces costs, compared to complex aluminum extrusions and imparts much greater strength and rigidity. Most of the strain imposed by Wind blowing against the banner is absorbed by rod 5 and slotted tube 11. Fairly thick steel can be used for these, e.g., .062 inch for plate and .035 inch for tubes 5 and 50. The banner is rigidly mounted by these elements, without risk of their being bent by wind, a risk which exists when aluminum extrusions are used. Therefore, it is not necessary to pivotally mount the banner on the pole, and it is possible to provide a more stationary display.

Another embodiment of the upper bracket is illustrated in FIGS. l114. In this embodiment, the basic structure is the same as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-10, but, in lieu of clamps 6 and 6, a clamp 106 is pivotally mounted on ear 183 (which corresponds to ear 83 shown in FIG. 2). The clamp 106 is a metal plate about as long as the width of the upper bracket and e.g. .62 inch thick, cut and rolled to form two short tubes 206 and 206 spaced along a longitudinal edge. The ear 183 is punched to provide two hinge pins (not shown) spaced along the upper edge and the tubes 206 and 206' are fitted around these pins to pivot the clamp 106. The plate which comprises clamp 106 is bent downwardly and rolled outwardly at a distance from these hinges to provide a hook 207 which snaps over ear 18-4 of the upper bracket (corresponding to car 84 shown in FIG. 2). The pivotally mounted clamp 106 thus provided is somewhat superior to clamps 6 and 6' in being permanently mounted to the upper bracket. It may not grip the ears quite as firmly as the screw tightened clamps 6 and 6', but partly compensates by extending along the full width of the bracket.

The embodiment of FIGS. 1114 also includes locking means in the form of transverse abutting surfaces to prevent longitudinal movement of the rod 5 when fitted in the upper bracket. This includes the transverse surface of a prong 208 projecting upwardly with the slotted tube 111 (which corresponds to tube 11 as seen in FIG. 2). The prong, whose length preferably is equal to or greater than the diameter of rod 5, is formed by punching the bottom of tube 111 and bending the sheet metal upwardly. The rod 5 in this embodiment has a transverse hole 209 drilled or punched through it, the sides of the hole providing a transverse surface which abuts the transverse surface of the prong. If a tube is used as a rod, holes are drilled or punched through diametrically opposite points in its wall. When the banner is mounted, the prong 208 is passed through this hole, positively locking the rod against longitudinal movement. This feature compensates for the reduced gripping force of the tube 111 in this embodiment, as mentioned above, although it also is useful in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-10.

It will be appreciated that various changes may be made in details of construction and mode of operation without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the rod 5 may be either tubular or solid. A tube is preferred, at least for the lower mounting, for better engaging the hook 62. It is possible to utilize a bracket similar to bracket 4 at the bottom of the banner, in lieu of the spring 51, if means can be provided to draw the banner taut, for instance by use of a slightly elastic banner. The banner may be folded to form one or both of the tubes and 71 at points intermediate the ends, having end portions beyond the tubes either stretched by other means or unsupported. Also, the device may be mounted on a horizontal pole or other types of device. Therefore, while a preferred embodiment has been described in detail, no limitation thereto is intended.

What is claimed is:

1. A pole mounted display comprising a flexible banner having a tube formed therein, a rigid support to secure said banner to said pole comprising a rod through the said tube in said banner, a bracket having a longitudinally slotted elongated tube receiving a central portion only of said rod, means mounting said bracket to said pole so that the axis of said elongated tube is transverse to said pole, the tube in said banner being slit to permit said rod to be inserted through the slot in said slotted tube and said slotted tube passing through the slit in said banner, and means fastened to said banner at a point remote from the tube therein and fastened to said pole to draw said banner taut, said bracket comprising a plate, a surface of which is held against said pole and to which said slotted tube is attached.

2. A pole mounted display comprising:

a flexible banner having two tubes formed therein at spaced points therealong,

a rigid support securing said banner to said pole comprising:

a first elongated rod through a first one of said tubes,

a bracket having a longitudinally slotted elongated tube receiving a central portion only of said first rod, said first tube being slit to permit said rod to be inserted through the slot in said slotted tube and said slotted tube passing through the slit in said banner,

said bracket comprising a plate including a flat portion a first surface of which presses against said pole, having a pair of spaced apertures, said rigid support including a strap around the pole and through said apertures, said strap pressing against the part of said flat portion between said apertures on the other surface thereof, and there being flanges turned inwardly from said fiat portion towards said pole from the inner edges of said apertures and of the size and shape of said apertures to grip said pole, there also being a pair of spaced triangular tongues extending inwardly from said fiat portion and equally spaced from a median line of said plate along a line perpendicular to the axis of said pole with a corner of each of said tongues being towards said pole, the side of each of said triangular apertures opposite said corner being integral with said fiat portion, said fiat portion having triangular apertures of the size and shape of said tongues adjacent said sides of said tongues,

said slotted tube comprising another portion of said plate, integral with an edge of said flat portion which edge is transverse to said pole, said slotted tube including a first section of said plate adjacent said fiat portion at said edge bent towards said pole about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the pole, a second section of said plate adjacent said first section and bent away from said pole to lie flat against said first section, a third section bent about an axis perpendicular to the axis of said pole to lie fiat against said flat portion, a fourth section adjacent said third section bent outwardly from and then generally parallel to said pole to enclose said rod against said third section and a fifth section adjacent said fourth section bent outwardly from said pole about an axis perpendicular to the axis of said pole, said slotted tube having a pair of ears extending along the edges of the slot in said tube and diverging outwardly from said slot, one of said ears comprising said first and second sections of said plate and the other of said ears comprising the fifth section of said plate, said rigid support also including a pair of C clamps spaced along said slotted tube and drawing said ears together against said rod, and

means to draw said flexible banner taut along said pole comprising a second elongated rod through the second tube in said banner, a spring under tension secured at one end to said second rod, a second strap around said pole and means securing said spring at its other end to said second strap.

3. A pole mounted display comprising:

a flexible banner having two tubes formed therein at spaced points therealong,

a rigid support securing said banner to said pole comprising:

a first elongated tube through a first one of said tubes,

a bracket having a longitudinally slotted elongated tube receiving a central portion only of said first rod, said first tube being slit to permit said rod to be inserted through the slot in said sloted tube and said slotted tube passing through the slit in said banner,

said bracket comprising a plate including a fiat portion a first surface of which presses against said pole, having a pair of spaced apertures, said rigid support including a strap around the pole and through said apertures, said strap pressing against the part of said fiat portion between said apertures on the other surface thereof, and there being flanges turned inwardly from said flat portion towards said pole from the inner edges of said apertures and of the size and shape of said apertures to grip said pole, there also being a pair of spaced triangular tongues extending inwardly from said flat portion and equally spaced from a median line of said plate along a line perpedicular to the axis of said pole with a corner of each of said tongues being towards said pole, the side of each of said triangular apertures opposite said corner being integral with said fiat portion, said flat portion having triangular apertures of the size and shape of said tongues adjacent said sides of said tongues,

said slotted tube comprising another portion of said plate, integral with an edge of said flat portion which edge is transverse to said pole, said slotted tube including a first section of said plate adjacent said fiat portion at said edge bent towards said pole about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the pole, a second section of said plate adjacent said first section and bent away from said pole to lie flat against said first section, a third section bent about an axis perpendicular to the axis of said pole to lie fiat against said flat portion, a fourth section adjacent said third section bent outwardly from and then generally parallel to said pole to enclose said rod against said third section and a fifth section adjacent said fourth section bent outwardly from said pole about an axis perpendicular to the axis of said pole, said slotted tube having a pair of ears extending along the edges of the slot in said tube and diverging outwardly from said slot, one of said ears comprising said first and second sections of said plate and the other of said ears comprising the fifth section of said plate, said rigid support also including a clamp pivotally mounted to said one ear and drawing said ears together against said rod, said slotted tube having an inwardly extending prong and there being a transverse hole in said rod receiving said prong to provide positive locking means preventing longitudinal movement between said slotted tube and said rod, and

means to draw said fiexible banner taut along said pole comprising a second elongated rod through the second tube in said banner, a spring under tension secured at one end to said second rod, a second strap around said pole and means securing said spring at its other end to said second strap.

4. A pole mounted display comprising a flexible banner having a tube formed therein, a rigid support to secure said banner to said pole comprising a rod through the said tube in said banner, a bracket having a longitudinally slotted elongated tube receiving a central portion only of said rod, means mounting said bracket to said pole so that the axis of said elongated tube is transverse to said pole, the tube in said banner being slit to permit said rod to be inserted through the slot in said slotted tube and said slotted tube passing through the slit in said banner, and means fastened to said banner at a point remote from the tube therein and fastened to said pole to draw said banner taut, said bracket comprising a plate, the surface of which is held against said pole, and to which said slotted tube is attached, said plate having a pair of apertures and said means mounting the bracket to said pole including a strap around the pole and through said apertures, said strap pressing against the portion of said bracket between said apertures on the other surface of said plate, said apertures having dogs turned inwardly from the inner edges thereof and of the size and shape of said apertures to grip said pole.

5. A pole mounted display as set forth in claim 4 in which said slotted tube has a pair of ears extending along the edges of the slot in said tube and diverging outwardly from said slot, and in which said rigid support includes at least one clamp drawing said ears together.

6. A pole mounted display as set forth in claim 5 in which said clamp is a C clamp.

7. A pole mounted display as set forth in claim 5 in which said clamp is pivotally mounted to one of said ears, so that it may be moved away from the slot when the rod is inserted in the slotted tube.

8. A pole mounted display as set forth in claim 4 in which said bracket has tongues extending toward said pole from said plate to grip said pole, said tongues being triangular and each having one corner thereof directed toward said pole, the side of each of said triangular tongues opposite said corner being integral with said plate, and apertures are provided adjacent said sides of said triangular tongues, of the size and shape of said tongues.

9. A pole mounted display as set forth in claim 8 in which said tongues are equally spaced from a median line of said bracket parallel to the axis of said pole.

10. A pole mounted display as set forth in claim 4 including positive locking means preventing relative longitudinal movement between said rod and said slotted tube comprising a prong extending inwardly across said tube and a hole in said rod, said prong being within said hole.

11. A pole mounted display as set forth in claim 4 in which said plate comprises a flat portion against said pole, and said slotted tube is another portion of said plate integral with an edge of said first portion which edge is transverse to said pole, and said slotted tube includes a first section of said plate adjacent said flat portion at said edge bent towards said pole about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the pole, a second section of said plate adjacent said first section and bent away from said pole to lie fiat against said first section, a third section bent about an axis perpendicular to the axis of said pole to lie flat against said flat portion, a fourth section adjacent said third section bent outwardly from and then generally parallel to said pole to enclose said rod against said third section and a fifth section adjacent said fourth section bent outwardly from said pole about an axis perpendicular to the axis of said pole, said slotted tube having a pair of ears extending along the edges of the slot in said tube and diverging outwardly from said slot, one of said ears comprising said first and second sections of said plate and the other of said ears comprising the fifth section of said plate, said rigid support also including a pair of C References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,034,242 5/1962 Gold 40-125 G 3,263,356 8/1966 Gilrnoure 40125 G 3,310,988 3/1967 Hart 40l25 G ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 40125 

